Dog rescue owner who allegedly choked dog to death turns herself in to police

Rita Mueller, wanted for allegedly choking dog to death, surrenders

The woman accused of choking her dog to death in a Toronto Animal Services shelter last summer turned herself into police early Friday morning and made her first appearance in court.

Wearing an oversized pink winter jacket and black pants, 50-year-old Rita Mueller looked tired and disheveled as she made a brief appearance at the College Park Courthouse to face charges of killing or injuring an animal, causing or permitting unnecessary pain, and disobeying a court order.

According to police, Ms. Mueller visited the shelter last August to hand over her dog, a male Shar-Pei named Henry, to a new owner.

It is alleged that Ms. Mueller went into a quarantined shelter room and choked Henry to death with a leash.

Police say she fled the scene before shelter staff found the dog.

She surrendered to police early Friday at 31 Division, a day after Toronto police issued a public alert for her whereabouts.

These are obviously very horrific allegations, but they are exactly that, just allegations. Only time will tell what really happened

Outside the courtroom, Ms. Mueller’s lawyer, Adam Goodman, warned that it was much too early to jump to any conclusions.

“These are obviously very horrific allegations, but they are exactly that, just allegations. Only time will tell what really happened,” he said.

Ms. Mueller has been convicted of animal cruelty charges in the past, said Brad Dewar of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He confirms that Ms. Mueller faced five charges and two convictions related to animal cruelty in 2011.

Those charges led to the removal of 19 dogs from her property and the surrender of 10 additional dogs to officials.
A bail hearing for Ms. Mueller has been set for Tuesday.